TinySeed

TinySeed is a pioneering accelerator and investment fund established in 2018 by co-founders Rob Walling and Einar Vollset, born from their observations within the MicroConf community. They recognised a significant gap in funding options for capital-efficient B2B Software as a Service (SaaS) startups that desired growth without the traditional venture capital pressures of achieving 'unicorn' status. Headquartered in Minneapolis, USA, TinySeed has since grown to back nearly 200 fast-growing SaaS companies across six continents.

Distinguishing itself from conventional three-month, in-person accelerators, TinySeed offers a comprehensive year-long, remote program. This structure allows founders to participate from anywhere globally, circumventing relocation hurdles often associated with other accelerators. The program provides funding, extensive mentorship from a network of over 100 SaaS experts, and a vibrant community of like-minded entrepreneurs. This approach is designed to foster sustainable growth and profitability, aligning with founders who aim to build enduring businesses rather than pursuing rapid, often dilutive, venture-backed exits.

TinySeed's investment model is unique, providing $120,000 to $220,000 per company in exchange for a 10-12% equity stake. Critically, their terms are structured around dividend payouts, meaning founders retain control and can choose to reinvest profits back into their business for long-term growth. TinySeed participates pro-rata when founders decide to issue dividends, rather than forcing fixed profit or revenue shares, thus allowing companies to deliver investment returns even if they remain relatively small by venture capital standards. This model supports capital-efficient companies aiming for seven or eight-figure revenues, a success metric that often differs from traditional VC expectations.

A notable achievement includes TinySeed Fund 1 returning over 100% of its invested capital to investors within six years, a remarkable feat that places it among the top 5% of funds from its vintage. The organisation has successfully raised its fourth early-stage SaaS fund, bringing total assets under management to over $59 million. Beyond its core accelerator, TinySeed also operates the SaaS Institute, a private coaching community for founders whose businesses have already surpassed $1 million in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR), providing advanced support for scaling to eight figures.

Leadership is provided by co-founder Rob Walling, a serial entrepreneur and host of the "Startups for the Rest of Us" podcast, and co-founder Einar Vollset, a Y Combinator alumnus and former Cornell CS Professor. They are supported by a dedicated team, including Tracy Osborn as Head of Product and Alex McQuade as Program Director. TinySeed's emphasis on community, sustained support beyond the program year, and its tailored approach for bootstrapped SaaS companies truly sets it apart in the accelerator landscape.